Academy converter · Wigan

The Byrchall High School

11–16Ages
1,138Pupils
SecondaryPhase
138699URN

Warrington Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 9PQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.9per place

0.8 above Wigan median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Wigan

721 applications for 250 places · 3rd of 19 in Wigan

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.8of 90

Wigan 45.5 England 46.0

15th of 19 in Wigan

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 13 September 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.9applications per place, Year 7

0.8 above Wigan median (2.1) 0.6 above England median (2.2)

721 applications · 250 places offered · 315 named it first

2026 2.9; Wigan median median 2.1
2025 2.6; Wigan median median 2.2
2024 2.7; Wigan median median 2.2
2023 3.1; Wigan median median 2.1
2022 3.0; Wigan median median 2.0
2021 3.1; Wigan median median 2.0
2020 3.3; Wigan median median 1.9
2019 2.6; Wigan median median 2.0
2018 3.1; Wigan median median 2.0
2017 3.5; Wigan median median 2.0
2016 3.4; Wigan median median 2.1
2015 3.0; Wigan median median 2.1
2014 3.4; Wigan median median 2.2

More applications per place than the Wigan median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Wigan median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	250	721	2.9	315	1.26
Sep 2025	251	639	2.6	246	0.98
Sep 2024	256	686	2.7	236	0.92
Sep 2023	167	518	3.1	128	0.77
Sep 2022	153	459	3.0	97	0.63
Sep 2021	166	519	3.1	127	0.77
Sep 2020	167	554	3.3	129	0.77
Sep 2019	220	577	2.6	182	0.83
Sep 2018	176	536	3.1	163	0.93
Sep 2017	149	517	3.5	127	0.85
Sep 2016	175	593	3.4	154	0.88
Sep 2015	189	571	3.0	139	0.74
Sep 2014	176	604	3.4	163	0.93

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

202 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.815th of 19 in Wigan

Wigan 45.5 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths38%15th of 19 in Wigan

Wigan 45% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths57%

Wigan 65% England 66%

This school
Wigan median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.40

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	202	42.8	38%	57%	–
2024/25	187	41.3	39%	57%	–
2023/24	250	43.4	43%	63%	−0.40
2022/23	168	45.1	41%	70%	−0.32

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Byrchall High SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

2.9applications per place 42.8Attainment 8
St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
0.1 km · Wigan

2026

1.9applications per place 50.4Attainment 8
Cansfield High School
1.4 km · Wigan

Good2024

2.2applications per place 41.7Attainment 8
Hope Academy
2.4 km · St. Helens

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 43.9Attainment 8
Outwood Academy Haydock
3.0 km · St. Helens

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.1applications per place 42.9Attainment 8
Golborne High School
3.6 km · Wigan

Outstanding2023

1.9applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Hawkley Hall High School
4.7 km · Wigan

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.6applications per place 41.9Attainment 8
St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy
5.0 km · St. Helens

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.3applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy
5.8 km · St. Helens

Remains Good2022

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 138699 · 359/4501
Trust: Makerfield Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,216 pupils · 1,138 on roll
Free school meals: 33.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: SEN unit
Opened: 1 September 2012
Replaced: The Byrchall High School (URN 106533)
Address: Warrington Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 9PQ
Local authority: Wigan

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources